Mr Hain finally stepped in yesterday to appoint the joint chairmen.

Sun Hung Kai is run by brothers and joint chairmen Thomas and Raymond Kwok.

Mr Lawlor said new terms of reference announced by the tribunal gave the tribunal's three joint chairmen the most sweeping powers imaginable.

BACKLASH The Financial Times said the trust had two joint chairmen, London property developer Bruce Ritchie and luxury goods businessman David Meller.

Among the possible repercussions is that the Joint chairmen, Tory MP Peter Temple Morris and FG deputy Paul Bradford, may be forced to go.